Adjustable tie-down



April 1940- G. c. MEYERS 2,196,504

ADJUSTABLE TiE-Dovm Filed May 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. @60 eC jygg ens' BY C ML.

ATTORNEY.

. April 9, 1940. G. c. MEYERS ADJUSTABLE TIE-DOWN Filed May 20, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 6 jlNfVENTOR.

6059C? gyens BY Q\k-\4 6 U an) ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT? OFFICE I I I 2,196,504 e I ADJUSTABLE TIE-DOWN v GeorgeC. Meyers, Michigan City, Ind. Application May 20, 1938, Serial No.209,( )18 Claims.

My invention relates to car loading devices known as tie-downs orhold-downs which are employed in anchoring an automobile or otherwheeled vehicle to a deck' or rack on which the vehicle is supported fortransportation in a freight car.

In loading automobiles for shipment in freight cars it is commonpractice to support two automobiles upon the floor of the car and tosupport an elevated automobile upon a deck over each of the floorsupported vehicles. The deck supported automobile is securely fastenedto the deck by means of chains or other flexible members, known astie-downs, which are carriedby or anchored to the. deck and suitablyattached to the wheeled vehicle.

In. the transportation of some vehicles it is desired that the flexibletie-down member be attached to the car axle; on others, to points on thevehicle underframe; on other makes of vehicles it is desirable to fix abracket at some point on the vehicle underframe, and attach the flexi-'ble tie-down'member to this bracket.

The principal object of my invention'is to provide a deck havingtie-down assemblies which are adjustable so that they can be moved tothe desired position for attachment of the flexible members to desiredpoints on vehicles of varying size and manufacture for properlyanchoring the vehicles to the deck and preventing movement in anydirection of the vehicle on the deck. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide tie-down assembliesadjacent the four wheels of 1 the deck supported vehicle, which can beadjusted transversely of the deck to desired positions. r l

A further object of my invention is to provide adjustable tie-downassemblies having means for adjusting the angularity of the chain orflexible member that is anchoredat one end and attached a to the vehicleat the opposite end.

'Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription, and the drawings relating thereto.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is aplan view of a deck for support- (01105-368) v p y thetiedown'assembly attached to the-axle br wheeled vehicle that is carried onthe deck:

Figure 4is a sectional view taken on the line l-40f Fig. 3.

numerals and letters refer Similar reference to similarparts throughoutthe drawings.

As shown in Fig. l, the deck comprises spaced longitudinally disposedwheel supporting run-- ways- I 0, longitudinal side members I I, endtransversely disposed members l2 and intermediate transverse members [3,suitably spaced from the end transverse members l2. The deck carriesfour adjustable tie-down assemblies, each of which is designatedgenerally by the letter A.

Two of the adjustable tie-down assemblies are located adjacent each endof the deck, and as each ofthe tie-down assemblies are identical,descriptionof oneisdeemed suflicient.

The adjustable tie-down assembly compr is'es a longitudinally disposedtransversely adjustable base member M, a longitudinally adjustable loopand a chain or'other suitable flexible member which includes the lowerchain portion l6,an

base member 14, indicated bythe numeral 22, fits snugly within thechannel '23 formed on the side of the intermediate transverse member I3,and is slidable thereon transversely of the deck. One' end ofthe basemember l4 carries an up'- right vertical extension 24 having a slot 25which is parallel to theendtransverse member l2 as shown in Fig. 2 .ofthe drawings. This slot has an enlarged circular opening 26 at one endwhich can be closed by the plug 21 after the chain I6 is inserted in theenlarged end of the slot and a a link of the chainis moved into therestricted portion of the slot so as to lock'the chain It in the slot25, the links adjoining the link in the slot being perpendicularrto theslot, whereby the chainis locked in theslot. The plug 21 prevents j, thechain from slipping out of locked position.

Loss of this-plug is -prevented by its attachment to the verticalextension 24 by means of a small chain as clearly shown in Fig. 2. I l IIn placing the tie-down assembly on the deck,

iii

over the pipe member 2|, the pipe member passing through the circularopening at the end 20 of the base member, and the flattened ends 28 ofthe pipe member 2| are then welded or suitably attached tothe deck, forexample, to the bottom. of the longitudinal runways ll) of the deck asshown at 28 in Fig. 2, the ends 22 of the base member being placed inthe channel 23 of the transverse member |3 prior to the permanentattachment of the pipe member 2| to the deck. The base member is thenslidable or adjustable transversely of the deck, the ends being movablealong the pipe 2| and the channel 23. For holding the base member in thedesired fixed position transversely of the deck, asshown in Fig. 1, thepipe member 2| is provided with a plurality of small openings 29 andlocking pins 30 are insertable in these openings on opposite sides ofthe end, 20 of the base member for fixing the base member M at thedesired point transversely of the deck. r

In securing vehicles to tion, it is desirable that the flexible tie-downmember or chain attached to the vehicle and the base member be at theproper angle for exerting a downward pull in securing the vehicle on thedeck. With my improved tie-down assembly, any desired angularity can beobtained in loading vehicles of varying size and manufacture by means ofthe longitudinally movable loop l that is carried on the base member Mof the tie-down assembly.

As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the chain I6 is anchored in the slot25 and passes through the loop |5 which is fixed at the-desired pointlongitudinally of the base member, as will be more fully describedhereinafter. From the loop It, the flexible member comprising the lowerchain [6, the turnbuckle l1 and the chain extension l6 extends upwardlyto the point of attachment to the vehicle. The position of the loop I5,longitudinally of the base member regulatesthe angle indicated by theleter B in Fig. 3. l The loop can be positioned at the desired pointwhereby the chain or flexible member exerts the desired down-. ward pullwhen attached to the vehicle. 7

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, it is shown thatthe base member Mis ofa general U-shape, having horizontally disposed outwardly extendingflanges l5 at the upper .end of the U, and a vertically disposeddepending flange 3| at the bottom of the U having at desired points aplurality of notches 32 in which the loop. I5 is held fixed when theflexible chain I6 is secured to a vehicle. I i

In operation, the vehicle is placed on the deck, and the tie-downassembliesuare moved to the desired position transversely of the deck,this position depending upon the size of the vehicle and the points atwhich the flexible members are to be attached. The end of the chain IEis locked in the slot 25 by means of the'plug 21, the chain passingthrough the loop l5 as shown in Fig. 4. The chain extension |6 .ispassed over the'axle or other desired point on the vehicle. As shown inFig. 3, the chain is passed over the axle 33 of the vehicle having awheel 34 and is attached to the hook Hi. The turnbuckle H is turned totake up slack in the chain, the loop l5 being placed inthe desired notch32 on the under side of. base member M; the notch selected dependingupon the length of the vehicle and the desired angle indicated by thedecks for transporta the loop I5 is passed over the end 22 of the baseM. The end 20 of the base I4- is then placed letter B in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. As shown in Fig. 4, when the chain or flexible member of thetie-down assembly is secured to the vehicle, the chain contacts theupper portion of the loop l5 and tends to hold the bottom of the loop inthe notch 32 in which it is placed. This prevents the loop l5 fromslipping out of the desired notch.

In the use of my invention a plurality of adjustable tie-down assembliesare placed at suitable points on adeck for supporting a wheeled vehiclefor transportation. Each tie-down assembly is adjustable transversely ofthe deck and has means .for holding it at the desired point transverselyof the deck. My adjustable tie-down assembly includes means for fixing achain or flexible member thereto and a longitudinally adjustable memberfor controlling the angle at which the chain extends upwardly from thedeck to the point of attachment to the vehicle.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my adjustable tie-down providesa relatively simple and inexpensive means for securing a vehicle to adeck or rack. It possesses great flexibility and isadapted to fastenvehicles of varying size and manufacture toadeck. The adjustability ofmy tie-down assembly enables it to-be properly positioned with relationto the point on the vehicle to which the flex ble member is attached,and also enables the angularity of. the flexible member to be controlledto the desired degree, regardless of the wheel base of the vehicle orthe point on the vehicle to Which the flexible member is secured.

Although only one form of my invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart thatmy adjustable tie-down assembly could be used to anchor a floorsupported vehicle and that various modifications maybe made withoutdeparting from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A deck for supporting vehicles having a tiedown assembly slidablymounted on spaced trans verse members of the deck, said assembly beingslidable longitudinally of said spaced transverse members, the tie-downassembly including a flexible member and a loop membersecured to thedeck through which the flexible member passes, said loop member beingadjustable longitudinally of .thedeck and-adapted to ,control the angleat which the flexible member extends from the deck to the vehicle.

2. A tie-down assembly comprising a flexible member anchored to a deckat one end and attached to a vehicle at the opposite end and a loopthrough which theflexible member passes, said loop being adjustablymounted on a base member disposed longitudinally of the deck whereby theloop is adjustable of the deck, the under side of said base member beingprovided with a plurality of spaced notches with any one of which theloop cooperates so as to control the deck and a flexible member anchoredto the base member at one end and secured to the vehicle at the otherend, an intermediateportion of said flexible member passing through andcontacting the loop.

- 4 An adjustabletie-down assembly mounted on a vehicle supporting deckincluding a base member movable transversely of the deck and heldagainst vertical movement relative to said deck, ,said base memberhaving longitudinally spaced notches on its under side, a movable loopmounted on the base member cooperating with any one of the notches and aflexible member anchored to the base member at one end, passing throughthe loop and extending upwardly-to a point of anchorage on the vehicle.

5. An adjustable tie-down assembly mounted on a vehicle supporting deckincluding a base member adjustable transversely of the deckand securedagainst vertical movement relative tosaid deck, means for securing saidbase member at the desired position transversely of the deck, said basemember having longitudinally spaced notches on its under side, a movableloop mounted on the base member cooperating with one 01' the notches anda flexible member anchored to the base member at one end, passingthrough the chorage on the vehicle, the movableloop being.

loop and extending upwardly to a point of anadapted to control the angleat which the flexible member extends upwardly from the base member.

6. An adjustable tie-down assembly for a ve- I hicle supporting deckincluding a base member which is mounted on transversely disposedmembers of the deck and adjustable transversely of the deck, means forsecuring said base member against vertical and longitudinal movementrelative to the deck at the desired point transversely of the deck, amovable loop mounted on the base member said loop being adjustablelongitudinally of the deck, points of anchorage for the loop on theunder side of the base member and a flexible member attached to avertical extension at one end of the base member, the flexible memberpassing through said loop and extendingupwardly to a point of attachmentto the vehicle.

7. An adjustable tie-down assembly for a vehicle supporting deckincluding a base member providing 'a point of anchorage for one end of aflexible tie-down member, said base member being adjustable transverselyof the deck and secured against vertical movement relative to said deck,a loop mounted on said base member through which loop the flexiblemember passes,

said loop'being adjustable on said base member longitudinally of thedeck.

8. A vehicle supporting deck having an adjustable tie-down memberincluding abase member adjustable transversely of the deck, a flexiblemember attached to the base member at one end and attached to a vehicleat the opposite end, a

. .tive to said deck.

9. Avehicle supporting deck provided with a plurality of tie-downassemblies which are adjustable transversely of the deck and securedagainst vertical movement relative to said deck, means for securing eachof said tie-down as.- semblies at the desired point transversely of thedeck, each of the tie-down assemblies including a flexible member, abase member, and a loop mounted on said basemember, one end of theflexible member being anchored to the base member, said flexible memberpassing through said loop and extending from the loop to the pointofattachment to the vehicle.

10. An adjustable tie-down assembly for a vehicle supporting deckincluding a base member providing a point'of anchorage for one end of aflexible tie-down member, said base member being adjustable transverselyof the deck and sedeck, and a loop mounted on the base memberthroughwhich loop the flexible member passes said loop being adjustablelongitudinally of the deck, the flexible member contacting saidloop andextending. upwardly from this point of contact to the point ofattachmentto the vehicle.

GEORGE C. MEYERS.

cured against vertical movement relative to said

